Tray locking apparatus



July 21, 1964 o. R. BEECH TRAY LOCKING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1962 INVENTOR 36 ORE/v P. BEECH Z64 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,141,230 TRAY LOCKENG APPARATUS Oren lit. Beech, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Till. Plastics, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn a corporation of Minnesota Filed Mar. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 176,935 8 Claims. (Qi. 53-390) This invention relates to a Tray Locking Apparatus and is particularly concerned with a device for locking pocketed packages made of plastic or other similar material in releasable engagement.

In the packaging of fruits and vegetables various types of fasteners are used to lock the superimposed pocketed container trays in engagement prior to exhibiting the contents to the purchaser. It is desirable to provide a sturdy container which will provide an attractive display case, and preferably in many instances to have a display case which is transparent so that the contents of the case may be viewed by the prospective purchaser without the necessity of opening the carton. For some time, clips, staples, tape, and the like have been used to hold the rims of superimposed container portions in engagement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Tray Locking Apparatus to fasten the rim portions of superimposed container trays in locked engagement utilizing portions of the rims to provide interlocking members.

It is a further object to provide a Tray Locking Apparatus to fasten the rim portions of superimposed trays in engagement in such manner that the engaged portions of the rims may be readily released without destruction of the container or individual trays.

In general, it will be understood, that in packaging eggs, fruit, and the like, that the containers used consist of two main portions, each portion in general being a tray section which may or may not be compartmented. Generally merchandise is placed in a pocketed tray section, and the other tray section is folded over the first section to act as a cover. The rims of the two superimposed sections are thus in face contact, and it is these rims which are fastened together at present by one of the means previously mentioned. For some types of containers it is advantageous to have rims on three sides only, the fourth side of each tray connected to form a hinge portion between the two sections, the two sections being foldable upon each other about the hinge connection.

Valuable time is lost in packaging when locking devices for containers are difficult to operate and fasten. Further, when the devices used for locking are clips, staples, tape, glues, and the like, a problem of storage and supply confronts the packager. A further problem exists with some forms of locking devices, in that the devices are not susceptible to being easily opened without damage to the container and often times to the contents.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tray locking apparatus having means for interlocking portions of two superimposed rims in face contact eliminating the use of other or further means of fastening or attachment, and to interlock the portions of such rims in such manner as to enable the interlocking portions of the rims to be readily disengaged.

It is a further object to provide a tray locking apparatus which may be small and readily portable and easily operated by hand.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for interlocking the superimposed rims of tray portions to form a container, the apparatus being simple and effective in operation, compact in size, durable, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tray locking apparatus which may be made in a variety of sizes to accommodate container sections of various sizes.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims:

in the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FfGURE l is a perspective view of the locking tray apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of rim portions of a tray illustrating the rims in interlocked engagement.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the tray locking apparatus taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the means employed in interlocking tab members.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan'view of a pocketed tray.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the opened locking tray apparatus.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of interlocking tab members.

The drawings disclose a tray locking apparatus 10 of suitable structural material having a bottom tray positioning portion and an upper clamping and locking support member portion. The bottom portion in the preferred form of construction includes an integral base member 12, side walls 14 and 16, a front wall 18 and a back wall 21 The back wall 20 and side walls 14 and 16 are of uniform height. In the preferred construction, the side walls 14 and 16 have an abutting flange 22 on their inner surface extending from the back wall 20 to the front wall 18. The upper surface front wall 18 is of the same height above the base member 12 as the flange 22 and the upper surface of the front wall section 18 adjacent to the flange 22 provides a surface continuation of such flange abutment 22 to the outer edge of the front wall 18. In the preferred construction, an elongated clamping surface partitions the bottom compartment longitudinally into generally rectangular compartment sections 26 and 28. The clamping surface 24 forms an abutting wall extending longitudinally between the side walls 14 and 16 and integral therewith. The upper surface of the wall 24 is of the same height above the base 12 as the flange 2'2 and the upper surface of front wall 18. The upper surface 39 of the clamping wall 24 forms a clamping surface against which rim flanges of superimposed trays which will be described later are held by a clamping means while being interlocked. The clamping wall 24 in the preferred construction has a fiat vertical surface 32 facing the front wall 18 against which the trays to be locked are positioned. The opposed wall surface 34 of the clamping wall 24 has projections 36 which extend from the wall surface 34 at approximately right angles thereto, the upper surface 38 of the projections being in the same plane as the surface 36 of the clamping wall 24. The upper surface 38 of the projections 36 serve as a fold stake about which the tab members of the rim flanges of a tray are folded and interlocked. The marginal edges of the fold stake 38 are rounded to eliminate the possibility of the sharp edges cutting the material being folded over the fold stake 38. While it should be understood that the means employed as a folding stake may be attached to the clamping wall as an integral projection therefrom, in the preferred form of construction, the construction employed is that of a vertical abutment projecting at approximately right angles to the clamping wall with the upper surface 38 of the fold stake co-planar with the upper surface 313 of the clamping wall 24. This particular form of construction provides great strength and enables the machine to be used for interlocking packaging units of greater thickness which necessarily require greater clamping, interlocking and folding pressure to be applied. In the preferred form of construction, adjacent to the vertical projections 36, the clamping wall 24 has been arcuately recessed as indicated at 46) enabling parallel vertical projections, which will be later described, which are attached to the upper clamping and locking portion of the apparatus to pass on both sides of the projections 36 into the arcuate recesses. The recesses 46 in the preferred construction extend from the upper clamping surface 30 of the wall 24 to the base 12 for ease of manufacture, although it is only necessary to provide a recessed areaway of sufficient depth to accommodate the parallel projections.

The forward tray positioning compartment 28 has a portion of the front wall 18 and base 12 intermediate the side Walls 14 and 16 cut away to enable the interlocked tray to be more easily removed from the compartment 28.

Adjacent to the inner surface of the back Wall 29 and forming a part thereof are abutments 42 which act as stops for similar abutments 44 attached to the support member 46.

A hinge means 48, which in the preferred construction is of the piano hinge type, is engaged in longitudinal recessed portions of the adjacent outer surfaces of the back Wall 20 and the rear wall 62 of the upper support member 46 by suitable fastening means such as screws. In the preferred construction, the support member portion 46 is generally rectangular and corresponds generally in length and width to the compartment 26 of the bottom portion over which it is closed in superimposed relation when clamping and interlocking the tray rim flanges. The support member 46 has an upper surface 56. The upper surface 50 has means 52 such as a socket which is internally threaded to accommodate a threaded lever handle 54. The lever handle 54 projects forwardly over the compartment sections 26 and 28 at an acute angle to the upper surface 56 of the support member 46. The lever 54 is an elongated rod having one end threaded to engage into the socket means 52.

Outer edges of the various Wall portions of the apparatus may have their marginal edges rounded to eliminate sharp corners and projections. The support member 46, in the preferred construction, is a hollow shell having side walls tapering in height from rear to front, being of greater height at the rear. The tapering side walls are generally numbered 56 and 58, the forward wall connecting the side Walls 56 and 58 is generally numbered 60, and the rear wall is numbered 62. FIG- URE 3 illustrates the tapering height of the side walls 56 and 58.

The outer back wall 62 of the support member 46 adjacent the outer back wall 29 is recessed and the hinge 48 is engaged in the recess by suitable fastening means. The hinge 48 holds the adjacent back wall portions in hinged relation which allows the support member 46 to be raised and lowered about the hinge 48 in pivotal relation to the bottom compartment sections 26 and 23. Boss abutment means 64 and 66 spaced approximately equidistant from the front wall 66 and the side walls 56 and 58 of the support member 46 are integrally fastened to the undersurface of the support member 46. The boss means are internally threaded to form sockets into which mounting posts 68 and 70 are engaged. The mounting posts 63 and 70 are essentially elongated rods such as a bolt having a threaded end portion on one end engaged in the sockets of the bosses 64 and 66, and an enlarged end portion on the other end of the posts. The outer surface of the enlarged end of the posts 68 and 70 may have spaced axial grooves providing a gripping surface for use in tightening the posts 68 and 70 into engagement within the socket portions of the boss means 64 and 66. In the preferred form of construction, a hexagonal recess designed to accommodate a tightening tool such as an Allen wrench is provided in the enlarged end portion of the posts 68 and 70. The bosses 64 and 66 extend vertically from the underside of the support member 46 forming a spindle means over which coiled springs 72 and 74 are placed.

d. In the preferred form of construction, the springs 72 and 74 comprise multiple springs in coiled relation on each of the bosses 64 and 66.

The front wall 6t? of the support member 46 has spaced recesses extending from front to rear along the bottom surface of the wall 6% between the spaced parallel teeth 82 which will be described later.

A clamping plate 76 having spaced apertures therethrough registrable with the mounting posts 68 and 70 is held in position relative to the support member 46 by the posts 68 and 7th. The clamping plate 76 has collar means 78 encircling the said registrable apertures which engage a coil of the springs 72 and '74. The clamping plate '76 has U-shaped portions of the plate removed leaving U- shaped notches dtl through which the vertical projections 82 projecting from the under surface of the support member 46 pass when the clamping plate '76 is compressed against the springs 72 and 74. The spring mounted clamping plate '76 holds the trays to be interlocked in clamped relation to the wall 24 during the locking operation.

The spaced U-shaped recesses 69 in paired parallel relation to each other extend rearwardly from the peripheral forward edge of the plate 76. The U-shaped recesses in the preferred construction are separated by a bar 84 of the same length as the recesses 84), the bar 84 engaging in face contact with the fold stake 38 to hold the tab members of the superimposed rim flanges tightly against the fold stake 38 during the locking operation. The U- shaped recesses 86' together with the bar 84 in plan resemble the letter W. The forward portion of the plate 76, together with the bar 64 hold the rim flanges of the container in superimposed contact against the fold stake 33 and the clamping surface 30 of the wall 24. Parallel projections 82 which extend vertically from the support member 46 are paired and are registrable with the U- shaped recesses 39. The projections 82 in the preferred construction are generally rectangular shaped plates being relatively narrow in thickness, and of a width suflicient to engage suificient portions of the tab members to be interlocked to produce the required folding without danger of breaking or tearing the tab members of the superimposed trays. The projections 82 are in paired parallel relation to each other and to similar paired parallel projections extending at approximately a right angle to the under surface of the support member 46, and are registrable with the U-shaped recesses 8t) with one projection of each pair passing into the U-shaped recess 80 on one side of the bar 84, and the other projection of the pair passing into the recess 66 on the other side of the bar, the projections 82 during the downward movement of the support member 46 engaging the rim tab members, folding them about the stake 38 so as to perform the interlocking operation.

The container 83 illustrated in FIGURE 5 is of the container type formed of thin plastic sheets providing transparent pocketed package trays 9t) and 92 hingedly connected along an edge 98 and foldable about the edge 98 into superimposed relation to enclose the merchandise in the pockets.

The marginal rim flanges 99 and 1% of the two tray sections 96 and 92 are in face contact when the two sec tions are hingely superimposed. Converging cut lines as indicated at 101 and 1d?) define a trapezoidal area in the form of a locking tongue 104 therebetween on the rim flange 99 of one section 9%, the other tray section 92 having spaced cut lines 102 and 105 defining a generally rectangular tab 166 of predetermined length and width, so that when the two sections are hingedly superimposed and a downward force is exerted by the paired parallel projections 82 upon the tongue 104, the tongue 1.64- is bent into concave shape, the side edges of the locking tongue flexing beneath the opposed rim section 9% through the spaced out lines N2 and 105. Upon release of pressure the tongue ends engage beneath the opposed rim 99 adjacent the tab 1416 holding the package closed.

To lock the rims 99 and 100 of the container sections 90 and 92 in releasable interlocking engagement, the container sections 90 and 92 are superimposed, the rim flanges 99 and 100 being in face contact. The superimposed container trays are placed in the front compartment 28 of the tray locking apparatus with the rim edges 99 and 100 resting on the upper surface 30 of the wall 24, with the rim edge 99 superimposed on the rim edge 100. The support member 46 is brought into position so that the clamping plate 76 together with the bar 84, are engaged against the upper rim edge 99 of the folded container 88 holding the superimposed container trays in position for interlocking.

As the lever handle 54 is pulled downwardly exerting a greater pressure on the clamping plate, the paired parallel projections 82 engage the peripheral ends of the tongue 104 compressing the tongue 104 downwardly against the tab 106. As further pressure is applied by the paired parallel projections 82, the tongue 104 and tab 1'86 are folded to a concave form about the fold stake 38 of the projection 36, the wing ends of the tongue tab member 104 being forced through the cuts 192 and 105 and under the lower rim 100. When the support member 46 is raised the container rim edges 99 and 160 are interlocked in releasable engagement by the wing end portions 104 which are engaged against the under side of the lower rim 100 adjacent to the tab member 106 as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The bar 84 in the preferred form of construction may be of greater thickness than the flat plate portions 86 to provide greater strength and in such construction may project into recesses 61 in the upper front wall 6%) when the apparatus 10 is interlocking edges of container tray rims in engagement.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in Tray Locking Apparatus, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A tray locking apparatus for use in conjunction with a container having superimposed tray sections, said tray sections having rim flanges in face contact, portions of one said rim flange having spaced cuts forming generally rectangular tab members, portions of the other said rim flange having spaced cuts converging from the periphery of said rim forming generally trapezoidal shaped tab members, peripheral ends of said trapezoidal tabs interlockable with said opposed rim flange through the spaced cuts forming said generally rectangular tabs, said apparatus including an elongated clamping surface from which spaced folding means project, an elongated support means hingedly connected to said elongated clamping surface and movable toward and from said elongated clamping surface, said support means being an elongated means having spaced parallel vertical projections therefrom, a clamping means springably attached to said support means having spaced indentations registrable with said spaced parallel vertical projections, said clamping means engageable in face contact with said clamping surface to hold said superimposed tab members registrable over said fold means.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said tray locking apparatus includes tray positioning means adjacent said elongated clamping surface to hold said tab members of said superimposed tray sections in position for clamping and interlocking.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said tray positioning means includes a base, means on one surface of said base being forward, side, and rear abutments, said rear abutment means forming said elongated clamping surface.

4. A tray locking apparatus for use in interlocking positions of a container rim in conjunction with a container having superimposed tray sections, said tray sections having rim flanges in face contact, portions of one said rim flange having spaced cuts forming generally rectangular tab members, portions of the other said rim flange having spaced cuts converging from the periphery of said rim forming generally trapezoidal shaped tab members, peripheral ends of said trapezoidal tabs interlockable with said opposed rim flange through the spaced cuts forming said generally rectangular tabs, said apparatus including a tray positioning compartment comprising a base member, forward and side abutments, and a rear abutment, said rear abutment being an elongated clamping surface, means about which said superimposed tabs are foldable extending rearwardly from said elongated clamping surface, said superimposed tab members registrable with said fold means, said rim flange in face contact with said clamping surface, a support member having an upper and lower surface, means on said upper surface of said support member in which a lever means is engageable, a lever means engaged in said means on said upper surface, spaced means on said lower surface of said support means to which spring mounting posts are engaged, mounting posts engagedly connected to said spaced means, coil springs on said mounting posts, a clamping means having spaced apertures therein registrable with said mounting posts on said posts adjacent said coil springs, means fastening said clamping means on said mounting posts, said clamping means having spaced recesses registrable with said vertical projections from said support means, hinge means connecting said support means to said base member, said support means movable toward and from said clamping surface, clamp means in said spaced recesses registrable with said fold means extending rearwardly from said elongated clamping surface to hold said superimposed tab members registrable with said fold means, whereby when said superimposed container is placed in said tray positioning compartment said forward, side, and rear abutments hold said tray in position for interlocking the tab members of the superimposed rim flanges.

5. A tray locking apparatus for use in conjunction with a container having superimposed sections provided with marginal portions in face contact and in substantially contiguous relation, and a pair of tabs in superimposed relation in said marginal portions the apparatus including a body portion including means for locating the container in a predetermined position, a folding means engageable with the marginal portion of one of said sections intermediate the side edges of said tabs and operable to support center portions of the tabs, and a support mounted for relative movement toward and away from said marginal portions, the support means including a pair of spaced projections engageable with the side edges of the tabs of the other of said sections on opposite sides of said folding means, whereby relative movement between said folding means, and said support means against the tabs may act to fold the side edges of the tabs about said folding means until the edges of said tabs of said other section extend past the marginal portion of said one section which is on opposite sides of said tabs.

6. A tray locking apparatus for use in conjunction with a container having superimposed sections engageable in edge abutting relation, said sections each having a mar ginal flange, the two marginal flanges being engageable in superimposed relation, and face contact and the flanges having at least one pair of tabs defined by cut lines extending inwardly from the edges of the flanges, the apparatus including a base for holding one of the sections in a predetermined relation, a wall on said base against which the flange of said one section may rest, a folding member projecting from said wall and adapted to engage against the center portions of said tabs of said one section intermediate said cut lines, a support connected to said base for movement toward 'and away from said flanges, said support including a pair of spaced projections adapted to engage the tab of said other section on opposite sides of the area engaged by said folding member to flex the sides of said tabs toward said base, whereby when said support is moved toward said base the side edges of said tabs will flex through the planes of the flanges.

7. A tray locking apparatus for use in conjunction with a container having superimposed sections engageable in edge abutting relation, flanges projecting outwardly from marginal portions of said sections and engageable in face contact, a locking tab in one of said flanges and the other flange including an opening through which said tab may extend the tab being formed by cut lines extending into said one flange from the free edge thereof and producing a tab wider than the opening in the other flange, the apparatus including a base, a Wall on said base upon which a portion of the flanges may rest, a folding member projecting from said Wall and adapted to underlie the tab intermediate the cut lines, a support supported by said base for movement toward and away from said flanges, said support including a pair of spaced projections engageable with the sides of said tab on opposite sides of said folding member, said support being operable upon movement toward said flanges to force the sides of said tab through said opening.

8. The structure of claim 7 and including a clamping plate engageable against the flange of said one section on opposite sides of said tab and adapted to clamp said flanges against said wall.

Nelson July 29, 1958 Purdy -a Feb. 20, 1962 

5. A TRAY LOCKING APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CONTAINER HAVING SUPERIMPOSED SECTIONS PROVIDED WITH MARGINAL PORTIONS IN FACE CONTACT AND IN SUBSTANTIALLY CONTIGUOUS RELATION, AND A PAIR OF TABS IN SUPERIMPOSED RELATION IN SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS THE APPARATUS INCLUDING A BODY PORTION INCLUDING MEANS FOR LOCATING THE CONTAINER IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION, A FOLDING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE MARGINAL PORTION OF ONE OF SAID SECTIONS INTERMEDIATE THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID TABS AND OPERABLE TO SUPPORT CENTER PORTIONS OF THE TABS, AND A SUPPORT MOUNTED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID MARGINAL PORTIONS, THE SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED PROJECTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SIDE EDGES OF THE TABS OF THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FOLDING MEANS, WHEREBY RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID FOLDING MEANS, AND SAID SUPPORT MEANS AGAINST THE TABS MAY ACT TO FOLD THE SIDE EDGES OF THE TABS ABOUT SAID FOLDING MEANS UNTIL THE EDGES OF SAID TABS OF SAID OTHER SECTION EXTEND PAST THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ONE SECTION WHICH IS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TABS. 